Functional group
In organic chemistry, a functional group is a piece of a molecule that helps determine how it reacts with other chemicals. Having specific functional groups is what defines a family of organic chemicals.[1]
Functional groups are usually specific arrangements of specific atoms, but can also be grouped into families with similar structures and reactinos (like methyl −CH3 and ethyl −CH2CH3 both being in the alkyl family).[2]
Molecules can have more than one functional group and belong to multiple families. Some families, like amino acids, are defined by having multiple functional groups. A molecule with two functional groups is bifunctional, and a molecule with more is polyfunctional.[3]
Examples
[change | change source]- Alkyl
- Alkene
- Acryl
- Alkyne
- Alcohol
- Aldehyde (like in formaldehyde)
- Anhydride
- Amide
- Carboxylic acid (like in acetic acid)
- Ester
- Ether
- Ketone
- Imide
- Amine
- Thioester
References
[change | change source]- ↑ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. (the "Gold Book") (2025). Online version: (2006–) "functional group". doi:10.1351/goldbook.F02555
- ↑ John C. McMurray (2023-09-20). "Alkyl groups". Organic Chemistry, a Tenth Edition. Houston, TX: OpenStax.
- ↑ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. (the "Gold Book") (2025). Online version: (2006–) "bifunctional catalysis". doi:10.1351/goldbook.B00642
